Galway County Directory 1862

From Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory for the Year 1862

GALWAY, a maritime county in Connaught province. Boundaries: N., Mayo and Roscommon; E., Roscommon, King's, and Tipperary; S., Clare, and Galway Bay; W., the Atlantic Ocean. Greatest length, E. and W., 164 miles; greatest breadth, N. and S., 52 miles; comprising an area of 2,447 square miles, or 1,566,354 acres; of which 742,805 are arable, 708,000 uncultivated, 23,718 in plantations, 1,801 in towns, and 90,030 under water. The coast is indented with numerous bays. The principal islands are, Inishmore, population 2,592; Inishmaan, 473; Inishere, 456; Garomna, and Inishark: on Inishere there is a Lighthouse, and also one on Eevagh Island to the N.W. of Inishmore; there are Lighthouses with fixed lights at Sline Head in Connemara, and on Mutton Island, in Galway Harbour. Lough Corrib divides the county into the E. and W. districts, and is navigable from the sea to Cong in Mayo; and two small steamers now ply on its entire length. Lough Derg is an expansion of the Shannon, which forms part of the eastern boundary of the county. The W. district, named also Iarconnaught, Connemara, and Joyce's Country, is mountainous and rugged, poorly inhabited, parts almost desolate, but capable of high degrees of cultivation at moderate expense, and from its wild and beautiful scenery is crowded every summer with tourists; the E., level, and mostly arable, with much bog. Iron and lead ore has been found; and the former worked, when timber for smelting it was abundant. A sulphur mine has been found in Connemara, and is now being extensively worked; but limestone and marble are the chief minerals. In Connemara there is abundance of most beautiful green variegated marble, called Serpentine; the black, near Oughterard, is very fine, and has been exported to the London and other markets. The occupations are chiefly agricultural: coarse linens, and woollen stockings are manufactured, and kelp along the shores. At Oughterard a linen-weaving factory has been established, and on the coast fishing affords occupation to many of the inhabitants. A company for deep sea fishing and trawling has been established in Galway. A branch of the Grand Canal extends from Shannon Harbour to Ballinasloe. The population in 1841 was 422,923; 403,746 in the rural, and 19,177 in the civic district, exclusive of Galway town; and in 1861 the total population of the same district was 254,256.

The county is divided into 18 baronies—Arran, Athenry, Ballymoe, Ballynahinch, Clare, Clonmacnowen, Dunkellin, Dunmore, Galway, Kilconnell, Killian, Kiltartan, Leitrim, Longford, Loughrea, Moycullen, Ross, and Tiaquin, and contains 120 parishes. The county comprehends the whole of Kilmacduagh diocese, and parts of those of Tuam, Clonfert, Elphin, and Killaloe. It returns 4 members to Parliament—2 for the county at large, constituency, in 1859, 5,082; and 2 for Galway town, constituency 1,300. The principal towns are, Galway, Tuam, Loughrea, Gort, and Ballinasloe: population in 1861, 16,786, 4,542, 3,063, 2,077, and 3,200. The Assizes are held in the town of Galway. It is in the Connaught circuit. This county is within the military district of Dublin; there are Barrack stations at Loughrea, Dunmore, Portumna, Galway, Gort, and Oughterard.

The net annual value of property rated to the poor in the county is £362,466; and the net amount of property valued under the Tenement Valuation Act, £435,563.

Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum. The Most Hon. the Marquess of CLANRICARDE, K.ST.P., P.C. (1831), Colonel of the Galway Militia, Portumna Castle, in this county; 17, Stratton-street, London, W.

DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM AT BALLINASLOE. Established in 1833, for the Lunatic Poor of the counties of Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, and the town and county of the town of Galway. The Board of Governors meet on the second Monday of each month.Resident Physician and Superintendent, Richard Eaton, M.D., L.R.C.S.I.Physician, Thomas Dillon, M.D.Matron, Rose O'Callaghan. Chaplains:-Established Church, Rev. J. C. Walker.Roman Catholic, Rev. J. Kirwan.Apothecary, J. E. Poyntz.Storekeeper, Bartholomew Rock.Clerk, Michael Barrett.

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